Canadutch
The new-ish thing for public transit here in Rotterdam is the OV Chipkaart. It’s a card that you can charge up with credit and use on the public transit to get around the city.
In the past we used something called a strippenkaart which was a long paper thing sectioned into blocks or ‘strips’. Depending on how many zones you were travelling, you’d stamp a certain amount of strips. It was easy enough really and I never really minded. The OV Chipkaart was designed to make it even easier though, and from what I can tell… it’s failing.
The main difference is that not only do you have to swipe the card when you enter the public transit, but also when you are getting out, this is where I have a problem.
The strippenkaart was easy, if you forgot to stamp it (and didn’t get caught) you got a free ride. With the OV Chipkaart, if you forget going in or out you pay €4 regardless of how far you go! When you swipe the card when you get on the tram, for example, it will deduct €4 from your card. Then when you swipe it again getting out it calculates the length of time and distance you have travelled, then credits your card again for the difference. So if you swipe it on the way in, then forget on the way out, you are out the full €4. The same goes for the other way around. If you forget to swipe going in then swipe going out, it takes off the €4 and never gets the second swipe to figure the difference.
I know it probably doesn’t sound that difficult to swipe in and out but when you are used to the strippenkaart and have spent years only having to punch that on the way in, it’s not difficult to forget the whole checking out thing.
Then there’s the crowds. It’s not so bad when you are getting on the tram, you can usually slow down for a sec to swipe the card or hang around the doorway to do it just before sitting down. Getting out is different, everyone seems to be in such a hurry to get off all things public transit, you are lucky if you manage to reach out and swipe your card as you get shoved out in the mass.
I’m sure this is working out to be pretty sweet financially for the government but I think there must be a lot of other disgruntled travellers in this city who also keep spending €4 for a 10 minute ride.
You can also get something called a Maandkaart. It’s a set cost and it allows you to travel within certain zones unlimited. You get your photo taken and put on this card and there is no punching, no swiping, nothing. You just carry it with you and show it if someone checks it along the way.
I’m so getting one of those this weekend. Enough of this OV Chipkaart crap.
Leo – Of course I get that people are going to comment good and bad, but that doesn’t mean I can’t retort :P Besides, you -are- still able to comment, aren’t you? :)
Surely, coming from The Netherlands, you must be able to see how it is difficult for people to adjust to life here. If you think I complain now.. HA! You should read back a few years. I’m in love with Holland now compared to how I felt about it the first few years I lived here.
I think the problem is when you move for love, not necessarily for a desire for such a change.. it can really take it’s toll. At least that’s what happened with me.
I must admit though, after having gotten over that hurdle even I am frustrated by people who do nothing but complain about things here. Even though I can fully understand why they feel the way they do.
Breigh, I admit I was snappy (sorry, really!). I do not know anything about you that is true. However by looking at your picture on the website my idea that you were still young is … TRUE (I hope that is not an insult). So my gut feeling was ok. But admitting: I was acting on first impressions on your text.
You are blogging and it is open for comments so you will receive peoples comments (good AND bad)….so I feel you should not act as if being stung by a hornet. You know, I am Dutch and living abroad for some time now and really …I am getting annoyed with people (in Holland) that are complaining all the time about things about Holland (maybe about traffic is really justified….). The Dutch are really good at complaining and I a hope you will not be infected too much. I meet a lot of Aussies here and they are so relaxed. Stay more like that please…. Being away from Holland for some time now makes me see that things in Holland are not that bad (compared to the rest of the world). You have seen some countries and can make the comparison. Anyway, enjoy Holland and good luck with the site. It looks good.!
Suzy – You can still use strippenkaarts hehe don’t panick! :) I think they will have to always have that ability since the entire country won’t have the OV Chipkaarts.
Leo – I have no idea who you are, but I beg your forgiveness! I must have been sleepwalking when I changed this site to ‘I Love All Things Dutch!’… oh, no wait, yup… it’s still Canadutch and is still -MINE-. This site is here for me to discuss my feelings about things in the Netherlands, good and bad. The fact that you say “His” and “Probably still young” tells me you know nothing about me or what goes on with me here, so read up a little before shooting off your yap next time.
Tanya, HK Octopus rules but it cannot be compared to the Dutch system!! There is a simple fare system in Hong Kong. In the Netherlands people do no want such a system… they want to pay for what they travel only (fair enough). But this makes the system a lot more complicating so it needs some more time to get “tuned” Breigh, please stop complaining because there is a change in your routine! Listen to yourself. You are probably still young but you sound like a civil servant not willing to change his routine (doing nothing). Transport companies need to secure their income so the deduction of 4euro is necessary. The difference will be paid back when checking out. Unfortunately some errors occur but these bugs will probably fade away over time. In one year Holland will love their chipcard as we do love our Octopus card here in Hong Kong. By the way, Octopus is involved in the project in Holland!! Did you know…
Here, we have an Octopus card. Our works a charm. They make it pretty much impossible to get off the train without using the card. They do not charge the max unless there is a major problem.
For our buses, you pay the MAX fare when you get on, based on where you get on and where it eventually stops. Since buses have different routes, people going further have different routes. If you get on a $$$ bus, you will pay more than on a shorter route to get to the same place.
Our trams are $2HKD no matter how far you go. They’re not the same as the ones in your city, I imagine. Ours are pretty old.
I LOVE our Octopus system. LOVE it.
Is the strippenkaart not an option at all anymore? What about those who only occasionally visit Rotterdam? Would we need to get a Chipkaart JUST for Rotterdam?
My NSvoordeel card is set up with photo and, I believe, with chip and we have a few trams with the chip boxes, but they’re not used, so I guess that’s where they’re heading right now. O and for these trams, they no longer have the stamper ON the tram. You must stamp your strippenkaart at a freestanding machine at the stop–if it’s working at that moment. If not, you’re *supposed* to get off at the next stop and stamp it there—but *not* supposed to hold up the tram for those who must make the run. Yep, I’ve gone w/o stamping–I’m not making the mad dash to hop off/hop on….and that’s when I’m not carrying a load of things.
Good thing they’ve gone to so much trouble to “upgrade” their system…seems the strippenkaart worked fine for many years. Plus, there’s already been news stories of counterfiet chipcards. *sigh*
Yeah you’d think they’d come up with better easier systems that people can deal with. I think designers of said devices forget what it’s really like to travel.
But on I know on the NJ tollbooths, there is EZ pass, which pretty much scans your car for an EZ pass device and let’s you go through and charges your account for the toll.
Why can’t the same thing be done for people? I guess the only thing that would be different is if you happen to go through the system twice somehow.